You saying that we should give away our possessions misses the point entirely. I don't give away my possessions because I want everything to be free as in beer. That's just simply nonsense. But I do release the TI programs, as well as the documentation I've written under an open-source license (GPLv2) because I know people can use what I have as a base, and somewhere down the line, I can get an improved product--it goes full-circle.
By releasing code as Open Source, IBM is hoping to tap into the knowledge base of Russian programmers--which in the end can lead to an increase in sales overseas. Why? Open-Source programming is a powerful resource that drive innovation. Innovation keeps companies alive by increasing sales.
Russia, China, and the Mideast are increasing their industrial output--the demand for computer equipment is extremely high, and for professionals the demand is skyrocketing.
In the end, IBM's making a wise move by tapping their resources, but you just won't admit it.
It might, but depending on what IBM gives up they may not have any control or legal right into that process. The Russians can take IBM's gifts, if they are released under the GPL open source license (standard), and resell them under a name like "holy motherland software, whithout paying a dime for it, since IBM gave them away.
In the end, IBM's making a wise move by tapping their resources, but you just won't admit it.
"Tapping their resources"? Hardly. We are being the resource for them. And for free. If we were "tapping their resources", we would be getting something from them. You do understand the phrase?